Kenseth continues to dominate sport -- quietly (cont'd)

Estes: My thought is that you are perceived as a quiet guy who has a lot of success. Do you enjoy that role and also not getting all of the headlines?

Kenseth: I don't know if I enjoy the role, but it doesn't bother me. I'd rather be the underdog than the favorite.

Estes: Is that perception of you as a quiet guy accurate when you are among friends?

Kenseth: I don't know if I'm ever the quiet guy. I have as much to say as the next guy. I don't know if I'm ever the quiet, stand in the corner type of guy. Maybe the media plays that up a bit.

Estes: Off the subject of racing, what's been your favorite movie of late?

Kenseth: I liked Walk the Line. I wasn't a Johnny Cash fan until I saw the movie. It was cool to see how he got his life back together and to see how those guys partied back then.

Estes: Who is your favorite athlete in another sport?

Kenseth: The last 12 years it's probably been Brett Favre. Being a Green Bay fan he's had an unselfish attitude. He didn't hold out for more money so they could afford to pay other players. You can just tell he loves the game by looking at how excited he gets.

Estes: Has there been anyone you've met that was a "wow" moment?

Kenseth: The first time I met Dale Earnhardt was cool. I was racing him and he kind of talked to me and pulled me aside in the drivers meeting. He was really cool. I also met Metallica in 2003 and had a chance to talk to them and they were really cool.

Estes: Any bold predictions for the 17 team the rest of the year?

Kenseth: I don't like to make predictions.

And alas, another good headline opportunity is missed.

Question of the Week

Since I won't have this opportunity again before the Chase begins, I'll ask the most obvious question. It's survey time NASCAR Planet. Simple and plain, who do you think will win the championship and why? As ever, send your responses to me at beau@turner.com.

Last Week's QOW

In the previous column I asked which version of Bristol you preferred, the "old Bristol" or the "new Bristol." Not surprisingly, the "old Bristol" bumped it's way to a nearly 2-to-1 margin of victory.

Old Bristol: 62.3%
New Bristol: 37.7%

The response to the track changes at Thunder Valley evoked some strong emotions from faithful followers of the short track. Below are a couple of selections that are fit to print.

I went to Bristol for the very first time this past weekend and I was expecting Thunder Valley to blow me away. Instead I was awed by the venue not the event. Give me the Bristol of old or give me death.
Rodney -- Burlington, Ky.

This is certainly the first time one of the Founding Fathers has been paraphrased by a respondent. I'm going to go on record as encouraging this. Get creative and start quoting Ben Franklin, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton in your responses.

The "new Bristol" of course! I hate watching everyone dive to the bottom of the track and follow each other like lemmings; then having to resort to pushing a driver out of the way with their bumper. If you are worth your weight in salt as a driver you shouldn't need to push anyone out of the way, you should be able to drive around them. THAT is what the "new Bristol" has to offer.
Michael -- Indianapolis

As you can see in the divergent responses of Rodney and Michael, this issue is emotionally charged and provokes impassioned responses so I'll go ahead and heed the words of the man with the famous kite who said, "Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose." What this means is I see both sides of the issue and don't want to get a knuckle sandwich from either Kentucky or Indiana.

Chat Room Chatter

Surprise, surprise -- the word "cheater" came up more often in out chatroom than during the Barry Bonds home run debacle. I can't wait to see if Dale Jr. gets the same treatment if he wins next week.

Below are some of the "cheat free" comments ...

Beau -- didn't you say Jimmie would not win the championship last year?
Belinda - Florence, S.C.

No, in fact I said he would win the title a year ago which leads me to the next question ...

Will Jimmie or Jeff win the cup this year?
Ed -- Tenn.

Yes, Jeff Gordon will own the car that wins back-to-back titles -- Jimmie Johnson's No. 48. The loss for the 24 team will leave them feeling "cheated" in a year they clearly dominated.

I went on record selecting Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win in Richmond and still fall short in his quest to make the Chase. To me, this is the most fitting end to the regular season for the No. 8 team. The Budweiser gang has been terrific lately, unfortunately for them you don't make up much ground when the guys you are chasing for the Chase are cranking out top-fives faster than Fergie.

Still, I think it would be terrific to see "The Legacy" crank out wins in the Chase like Tony Stewart of a year ago prior to going out and making his own legend at HMS.

Enjoy the race.

The opinions expressed are those solely of the writer.